Display easel



April 27,1943. E. H. TAYLOR x-:rAL 2,317,867

DISPLAY EASEL Filed May 29, 1941 ww/'VGH 72010;? M//LL/AWST (74,? 71571.? INVENTOR)` 47 MPM/fr Patented Apr. 27, 1943 DISPLAY EASEL f v v Ewing H. Taylor and William S. Carter, Dallas; i'

Tex.; said Taylor Dallas, Tex.

assigner to W. S. lCarter,

Application May 29, 1941,` Serial No. 395,7831

3 Claims.

This invention relates to sign and placard supporting easels and it has particular reference to such easels constructed chiey of wire.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a wire easel particularly useful for supporting large advertising cards, theatre placards and the like, and is so constructed that cards of any size within certain limits may be retained thereby in such a manner that they will not readily become dislodged therefrom as by sudden drafts of air or accidental collision therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a card support which, while of simple and inexpensive construction, has a variety of adjustments of the card retaining elements to correspond with requirements as to the positions of these elements on cards of various widths and lengths as well as to the height therefrom from the oor.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has other objects and certain features of accomplishment to become apparent in the course of the following description, taken with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a slightly modied form of easel.

Figure 3 is another modified form wherein both the upper and lower card retaining elements are adjustable on the easel.

Figure 4 is a transverse section on line 4 4 on Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the upper portion of an easel showing yet another modied form in that the easel is provided with a merchandise mounting hook adjustably disposed at its top.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the merchandise mounting hook shown in Figure 5.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference is primarily made to Figure 1 wherein is shown an easel frame composed of wire IU bent into a substantially rectangular shape, the lower portion of which is shaped to form legs Il, upturned slightly at I 2 to provide hooks or receptacles for optionally receiving and retaining the bottom edge of a card I3. The ends of the wire I0 forming the frame of the easel nearly meet at the top and are formed into loops I4, thIOllgh Which iS passed a pin or bolt I5. Between the loops I4 is interposed the looped end of the support I6, held also by the bolt I5.

At the bottom of the frame that portion of wire l0 bent to dene the legs II isy also formed to provide a transverse member I1 for an auxiliary support for the bottom edge of a card I3 in the event it is desired to elevate the card above the floor. This auxiliary support is comprised of a wire bent to form hooks I8, the legs I9 of which are joined rotatably to the transverse member Il so that the hooks may beswung into and out of alinement with the lower edge of the card I3 when in position on the fframe. Thus, when not in use, the auxiliary support is moved rearwardly and -is concealed by the card.

Slidably disposed on the uprights ofthe frame is a horizontal member 20, on either end of which is formed hooks 2|. These hooks .engage the side edges of the card I3 as shown at any point along the edges desired or permitted by the height of the frame.

It is apparent from the foregoing that since the card I3 is rmly held on both sides and at the bottom by hooks 2| and I2 or I8, there is little likelihood of it being blown ol the easel or displaced, even if the latter be overturned. This is a distinct advantage when the easel is used for supporting large cards, such as theatre or other advertising cards which are generally displayed in large areas more given to drafts of air, tending to overturn the mounting.

A variation of the form of the invention just described is illustrated in Figure 2, modified in that the auxiliary bottom support 22 is so mounted on the frame 23 that the hooks 24 are vertically adjustable relative to the permanently positioned hooks 25. It is sometimes desirable to mount a card well above the floor and in providing for height adjustment of the bottom support, such placement of the card is made possible. The side retaining means comprised of hooks 26 is mounted for vertical adjustment on the frame 23 much in the same manner as shown in Figure 1.

The easels illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 are designed to accommodate standard size cards of iixed dimensions and in cases where cards of various dimensions are required to be mounted,

the structure shown in Figure 3 is provided.

This easel is comprised of a frame 21, not unlike the frame shown in Figures 1 and 2, having legs 28 and bottom Ahooks 29. The auxiliary bottom support 30 is identical in form and adjustment as that shown in Figure 2 but the top retaining member is comprised of the transverse wire 3l whose ends are looped about the uprights of the Y frame 2K1 at a and bent inwardly and upwardly thence downwardly after being formed into hooks 32 to engage over the top edge of a card mounted on the frame. Thus, a card of any dimension as to height and width, within certain limits may be accommodated by the support.

` In Figure 5 is shown an addition which may be made to any of the Various forms of easel described and consists of a support for merchandise adapted to be associated with an advertisement appearing on the card supported by the easel 33. This support is comprised of an arm 34 whose looped end 35 is mounted on the bolt 36 securing the ends of the wire constituting the frame. To be operative, the arm is disposed in an upright position, as shown, and an article of merchandise,

such as a cup and saucer, necktie or the like, is suspended from the hook 31 to overlie a card disposed on the easel; thus lending interest to the subject matter appearing on the card. When not in use, the arm 34 is moved to a concealed position behind the card reposing on the easel.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A card easel comprising a frame composed of wire having upwardly directed hooks at its lower portion, spaced apart on a horizontal plane, correspondingly disposed hooks disposed above and adjustable vertically with respect to said first hooks, means also adjustable vertically on said frame for retaining the upper portion of a card against said frame and means for supporting said frame in a substantially upright position.

2. A device of the character described, including a rectangular wire frame at one end of which the wire is bent upward to dene portions lying parallel to the sides and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame and to also dene supporting legs for the frame, means carried by the transverse portion for retaining the lower end of an object displayed on the frame, and means pivotally connected to the upper portion of the frame for supporting the same in a substantially upright position.

3. A device of the character described including a wire frame, an end portion of which is bent upon itself to lie within the sides of the frame to provide a transverse lead and to define supporting legs, means carried by said transverse lead for supporting the lower portion of an article displayed on said frame, means above and parallel with said transverse lead and slidably mounted on the sides of said frame for retaining the sides of said article and means pivotally connected at the top and midway between the sides of said frame for holding the latter in operative position.

EWING H. TAYLOR. WILLIAM S. CARTER. 

